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Australia group abandons plan to dump millions of cubic meters of dredged sand into the Great Barrier Reef.
A consortium of companies that had received authorization to dump millions of cubic meters of dredged sand into the Great Barrier Reef has announced plans to propose an alternative dumping site on-land. The move comes in the wake of criticism from both domestic environmental groups as well as international players, who argue that the dumping would cause catastrophic damage to the reef.
Australia will amend its plans to dump 3 million cubic meters of dredged sand into the Great Barrier Reef area as it creates what will be the world’s largest coal port. The Abbot Point port is currently being expanded to accommodate $16 billion worth of coal projects planned in the inland Galilee Basin by two Indian firms and Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart. The two Indian firms, Adani Enterprises and GVK, announced that they would re-submit their proposal soon and offer alternative dumping sites on land.
Both domestic and international groups decried the dumping project, which Queensland Environmental Minister Greg Hunt had permitted, with North Queensland Conservation Council filing suit over the matter. The revised plan is meant to address public concerns while avoiding the litigation. Minister Hunt, through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority granted a permit allowing North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp to dump the dredged material in the Great Barrier Reef Park in order to deepen Abbot Point for two terminals planned by Adani and GVK. Then, in June 2014, UNESCO’s world heritage panel deferred a decision on whether to designate the reef as a site in danger, which would lead to stricter oversight from the international community. Also, recent reports uncovered that the permitting authority, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, ignored their own scientists’ warnings about the environmental harm that would accompany the dumping. An updated plan for on-land disposal is expected soon.Red-on-line EHS Legal Counsel
Philip Pulitzer, Queensland moved forward with dumping in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park despite warning of “unacceptable social and environmental risk” from advisors, Red-on-Line, August 22, 2014 Philip Pulitzer, UNESCO agrees to postpone “in danger” designation for Great Barrier Reef, finding that Australia was making progress in preserving the 300,000 square kilometer area, June 27, 2014